I want more...

I Kings 12 Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 4 “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” 5 He said to them, “Go away for three days, then come again to me.” So the people went away.

6 Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” 7 And they said to him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.” 8 But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. 9 And he said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?” 10 And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us,’ thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's thighs. 11 And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’”

Since people started having grandchildren, I think older adults have always said: "this younger generation...", followed by some shaking-the-head complaint.  Often young people entering adulthood do have bigger vision for their lives and for the world; they are not yet bogged down with the skepticism that comes from repeated failure and frustration.  Also, on a positive note, we do see evidence that Millenials, our current generation of younger adults, do demand a sincerity and reality of faith other recent generations have not insisted upon.  There is a good way in which we can want more.  But there are also some bad ways.  The last few generations have created a monster. In trying to make sure the next generation has it "better" than they did, we now see a flashback to this scripture passage above. Rehoboam wanted more: more riches, more power, more pomp, and more taxes on the people to pay for them. Millinials have been given the impression they can have it all with never working for it, never waiting on it, and never wondering what their instant gratification does to others.  This, of course, is a stereotype, and many, and even most members of this generation fit it completely.  But there is evidence that it is prominent enough to cause them, and our nation, a problem.  In wanting more, let's make sure it's more of the good, important, and righteous things of life, which will not lead coming generations to say: "What were they thinking???"